Mathematical Modelling of the Contribution of Arterial Volumetric Pulsation to the Intracranial Pulse Wave

Summary

Previous studies have traditionally taken the systemic arterial and venous pulse waves as the input signals responsible for the generation of the intracranial pulse wave (ICPW) (Adolph et al. 1967, Chopp and Portnoy 1980, Dereymaeker et al. 1971). The ICPW, however, depends not only on the input pressure waves but also on the filtering effect of the vessel wall. Intraluminal to extravascular pressure pulse transmission was studied in a system which consisted of a single artery enclosed inside a fluid-filled elastic container. A mathematical model describing pulse transmission across the vessel wall was derived and experimentally verified. The results can be extrapolated to the cerebral circulation and the generation of the ICPW.